Tasty Tales and Tips from a Culinary Traveler in Italy and France

October 06, 2009

Arancino - Sicilian Fast Food

Yes, I used the dreaded F word when refering to Italian Food. In the land that founded the slow food movement, there is a fast food that is truly Italian. It's true. Arancino is a handful of Italian flavors in one. There's creamy risotto, dense and beefy ragu, and chewy-gooey cheese encased together with crunchy breadcrumbs and then fried.

Arancini are at their best a few minutes out of the fryer; left to cool only long enough so the cheese won't scorch your mouth. When they are warm, the cheese is still runny and creates a string when pulled. (On the mainland of Italy these balls are known as "suppli" for short or "suppli di telefono" --telephone lines). This fast food beats a hamburger any day. They are also deceptively filling. One is enough. After two you will need a pisolino or mezzoretta, as the Italians call their afternoon nap, before you will be able to move again.

These little balls are a cause for great debate arguments in Sicily. In the Palermo area, they are called arancina (feminine), and the round ones have ragu inside. According to a Palermitano, it is sacrilege to make a pyramid-shaped aranicinA and use ragu. These should instead have spinach. In the Catania area, the pyramid-shaped arancinO are filled with ragu, and the round ones with bechamel or spinach. And, don't ask for arancinA in Catania or arancinO in Palermo without also receiving a 10 minute lecture on the differences of arancin -a/-o in each region. In any case, this is an Italian fast-food that should not be missed.

These look so good. I'm not as familiar with Italian food as I would like to be. I tend to go more towards the French, but more and more I realize I'm missing a lot of great food. I can relate to eating something hot and burning your tongue. Sometimes I just can't wait.....and I know that would be the case with these.
Sam